Gabe Kidd retained the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship against Taichi in the main event of Power Struggle and attacked the New Japan president.
In an incredible main event, Kidd defeated Taichi in thirty minutes, with the challenger conjuring various moves from his influences in All Japan’s history. References and moves from Jumbo Tsuruta, Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi, and Toshiaki Kawada were spread out throughout the contest as Taichi attempted to bring the championship back to New Japan.
Kidd taunted Taichi by applying the Stretch Plum and used a chair and table as weapons. Kidd used a piledriver off the apron as the two went through the table and Kidd’s back was sliced open. Taichi returned fire with a Burning Lariat and a Dangerous Backdrop Driver for a two-count.
It escalated as Taichi hit a Tiger Driver ’91 and an Emerald Flowsion before applying his own Stretch Plum, but the champion grabbed the rope.
Kidd invoked Karl Gotch with back-to-back versions of his piledriver. Then, Kidd used a Destroyer off the turnbuckle and ran the ropes, connected with a giant lariat as Taichi managed one final kickout before falling to the Death Dog Driver at the 30:00 mark.
It was a sensational match and one of the best New Japan matches of the year, with a tremendous atmosphere at Hiroshima Sun Plaza Hall.
The final angle on a night full of them saw Kidd demand that President Hiroshi Tanahashi wrap the belt around his waist. When Tanahashi completed the task, he was attacked by Kidd and hit with a Drill-a-Hole piledriver. Yuya Uemura stormed the ring to save and vowed to “end” Gabe Kidd.
It became a 2-on-1 beatdown when Jon Moxley served as backup for Kidd and left Tanahashi and Uemura beaten in the ring. Moxley said they had no more time to show respect to anyone in NJPW and they would have to earn their respect.
Backstage, Kidd confirmed he would defend the IWGP Global Heavyweight title against Yuya Uemura at Wrestle Kingdom 21 on January 4.
NJPW Power Struggle – Results (Attendance: 3,683):
- IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: Gabe Kidd © over Taichi in 30:01
- Super Jr. Tag League – Final: Taiji Ishimori & Robbie X over Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita in 11:08
- Non-title match: Kenny Omega over Yota Tsuji and Boltin Oleg in 12:50
- IWGP Tag Team Titles: Knockout Bros. © over Will Ospreay & Callum Newman by DQ in 18:18
- Shingo Takagi & Jeff Cobb over Jon Moxley & Wheeler Yuta in 14:03
- YOH, Hyo & Shota Umino over SHO, Dick Togo & Yujiro Takahashi in 6:53
- Yuya Uemura, Toru Yano, Ryusuke Taguchi & Kazuma Sumi over Ren Narita, Shun Skywalker, DOUKI & Yoshinobu Kanemaru in 8:05
- Ryohei Oiwa & Hartley Jackson over The Swirl in 7:25
- Mistico, KUSHIDA & Masatora Yasuda over Titan, Gedo & Daiki Nagai in 6:48
- Aaron Wolf, Master Wato & KUUKAI over Francesco Akira, Jakob Austin Young & Zane Jay in 5:57
